Figueroa’s Gem Lifts Warriors Past L.A. Harbor

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Freshman Emma Figueroa tossed a complete-game shutout as El Camino College defeated L.A. Harbor 2-0 in a South Coast Conference tilt on Friday afternoon at the ECC Softball Field.

Figueroa scattered three hits in seven innings against the Seahawks for her first career seven-inning complete-game shutout. She tossed a five-inning shutout against Chaffey on March 20.

Offensively the Warriors got two hits from Julianna Vasquez and RBI singles from Madilyn Radeke and Emily Esparza to record the victory.

For the Seahawks, Carrera Dilliard had two of the team's three hits and starter Celeste Quintanilla allowed seven hits while tossing a complete game of her own.

The Warriors opened the scoring in the second inning as Vasquez led off with a single. Caitlin Michaels then entered as a pinch runner and immediately advanced to second on a passed ball. Lilly Lewis would sacrifice her over to third base and then Radeke, with two outs in the inning, lofted a single to right field to plate Michaels and put ECC up 1-0.

In the fourth, Esparza once again showcased some two-out magic for the Warriors as she smacked an RBI single to left to score Aaliyah Aguirre for a 2-0 lead.

It was more than enough insurance for Figueroa who only ran into trouble in the sixth inning when the Seahawks loaded the bases with one out on a walk, a single and a fielder's choice play that did not record an out.

But Figueroa got a pop up and then a groundout to Cheyenne Navarro at short to end the threat and then Figueroa retired the side in order in the seventh to lock down the victory.

The Warriors will return to action on Saturday afternoon as Fullerton, the No. 1 team in the state in the latest 3CFCA State Rankings, comes into the ECC Softball Field. The Hornets enter the game with just three losses on the year but one of those came at the hands of the Warriors, a 3-0 decision at Fullerton on Feb. 9. Esparza homered in that game while Navarro had an RBI single and Radeke tossed a complete-game shutout in the circle on 66 pitches.

First pitch is set for 1 p.m.